AP Language FANBOYS, THAMOS, and SWABIs)

Quick Prep for AP Lang

FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

• For → reason/cause (like “because”)

• And → addition

• Nor → negative addition

• But → contrast

• Or → choice/alternative

• Yet → contrast/surprise

• So → result/consequence

FANBOYS

THAMOS = Though, How, As, (if) Maybe, Once, Since

• Though → contrast

• How → manner/way

• As → cause/time

• Maybe → possibility/condition

• Once → time

• Since → time/cause

THAMOS

SWABIs – Subordinating Conjunctions (Cause, Time, Condition)

These also join independent + dependent clauses, usually at the start of a dependent clause.

SWABIs = Some, When, After, Because, If, Since

• Some → sometimes used for cause/condition

• When → time

• After → time

• Because → cause/reason

• If → condition

• Since → time/cause

SWABIS

SWABIs – Subordinating Conjunctions (Cause, Time, Condition)

These also join independent + dependent clauses, usually at the start of a dependent clause.

REMEMBER